Supervisory team
Director of Studies:
Professor Mahmut Tör, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester
Supervisors:
Professor Yiguo Hong, School of Science and the Environment, University of Worcester
Dr Tom Wood, NIAB Research Group: SERG
Background
Introduction to oomycetes: Oomycetes comprise several hundred microbial species including biotrophic, necrotrophic and hemibiotrophic plant pathogens. They have superficial similarity to filamentous fungi but are distinct from them [1] in several aspects: the cell walls of oomycetes have been reported to be primarily ß-1-3 glucans and cellulose with little or no chitin, oomycetes’ hyphae are coenocytic i.e. multinucleate with no division by septa, and their vegetative nuclei are in a diploid state [2]. Plant diseases caused by oomycete pathogens include seedling blights, damping-off, root rots, foliar blights and downy mildews (DM). Collectively, oomycetes are estimated to cause tens of billions of annual losses in crops, due to their high evolutionary potential that enables host jumps, resistance to fungicides, and suppression or evasion of host R-genes. Some of the most economically devastating oomycete pathogens are Phytophthora infestans (tomato and potato late blight), P. ramorum (sudden oak death), P. capsici (stem and fruit rot of cucumber and pepper), P. cinnamomi (dieback in avocado and pineapple), Plasmopora viticola (grapevine DM), P. halstedii (sunflower DM), Peronopsora vicia (pea and broad bean DM), Pythium ultimum (damping off and root rot), Bremia lactuca (lettuce DM), and Albugo candida (white blister rust of crucifers) [3].
Peronospora vicia f.sp. pisi (PVP)-pea system. Pea (Pisum sativum) is one of the principal legume crops cultivated in the UK, with areas of 50 K Ha for marrowfat and blue peas, 34 K Ha for vining peas [4]. Peas and beans generate revenues in excess of £220 M UK trade in dried pulse and fresh vegetable sectors, with increasing quantities of the crop now utilised for human consumption. Despite their high value, pulse crops are difficult to grow compared to cereals and effective control of diseases can often limit productivity. This is particularly true of DM, caused by Peronospora vicia f.sp. pisi (PVP), which can cause yield losses of up to 45-75 % in pea [4, 5].
Methods to assay effector function in planta. One of the motivations for this proposal is that PVP and other obligate oomycetes are not amenable to genetic transformation, thus hindering genetic analysis. Several groups including ours have relied on alternative approaches to assay effector function in planta including: a) co-bombardment assays into plant cells using the GUS gene to indicate avirulence activity [6, 7], b) effector delivery from bacteria using Type III secretion [6, 8], and c) creation of stably transformed plants expressing effector genes under control of plant promoters [3]. However, these methods stripped the effector gene away from the pathogen where the expression level of a gene may not be comparable to that in the native background.
Cross-kingdom RNA silencing. Noncoding sRNAs (20-30 nucleotides, nt) are involved in the regulation of gene expression and defence in eukaryotes [9]. Different types of RNAs such as double stranded RNA (dsRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) can trigger homologous RNA degradation or inhibit mRNA translation [10]. This process is known as RNA silencing, which plays a significant role in various biological processes including innate immunity [11] and development [12]. In plant-microbe interactions, plants and microbes can exchange RNA molecules, which then integrate into RNA silencing machinery in reciprocal recipient cells [13]
Movement of sRNAs from plants to pathogens has been explored using the host-induced gene silencing (HIGS) technique where the sRNAs are generally made from dsRNA in transgenic plants using Agrobacterium or virus delivery systems. HIGS has been successfully used to suppress essential genes in a few pathosystems including barley and wheat–Blumeria [14] and lettuce–Bremia [15]. Another approach for gene silencing in plants is based on exogenous application of sRNAs directly onto plants (referred to as spray-induced gene silencing, SIGS) [16]. This approach avoids the need to develop transgenic plants [17].
Aims and Objectives
We hypothesize that the sRNA method can identify genes that are involved in pathogenicity and development, and further the identification of targets for disease control. The overall aim of this proposal is to use an sRNA approach to increase our understanding of plant – biotrophic oomycete microbe interactions and find target genes to control the pathogen. We will use PVP-pea system with a sRNA-based genetic screen to identify genes and develop a method to target them for disease control.
Details of the studentship
The studentship is offered for a 4-year period on a full-time basis. The studentship is campus based. During the period of your studentship you will receive the following:
- a laptop and other IT equipment and software as appropriate to the project
- use of the Research School facilities
- Spending time at NIAB and breeding companies and other research laboratories.
You will be expected to play an active role in the life of both the Research School and of your academic School. You will be given opportunities to gain experience in learning and teaching within the School under the guidance of your Director of Studies.
Application Process
To begin the application process for this studentship please go to http://www.worcester.ac.uk/researchstudentships and click ‘apply now’ next to the project you wish to apply for. It is expected that applicants will have the following qualifications:
- A Masters in the area of molecular plant pathology, molecular plant-microbe interactions or molecular plant biology or equivalent professional experience.
- A First or Upper Second Honours Degree
It is also expected that applicants will be able to demonstrate the following:
- A sound understanding of and interest in both the project and the wider subject area
- Experience of relevant research methods and skills
- Ability to contribute to the research design of the project
- Proficiency in oral and written English
- Proficiency in IT relevant to the project, knowledge on how to use bioinformatic tools are desired.
- Ability to organise and meet deadlines
- Good interpersonal skills
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to work as part of a team
Continue with Facebook
